The International Triathlon of Portocolom meets 20 years in less than a month

There is just less than a month to celebrate the historic twentieth edition of the International Triathlon Portocolom in Mallorca, the next 9 in April, and the veteran Balearic test already has a strong start list with a large group of professional triathletes who will lead a appointment that will have more than 800 athletes of all levels in one of the first appointments of the European calendar.

The town of Portocolom, in Felanitx, is preparing to celebrate the edition number 20 of the International Triathlon of Portocolom. To the economic prizes for the first classifieds, both in the 55.5 format and in the 111 (1 km of swimming, 100 km of cycling and 10 km of running), there are some novelties in the design of the area of ​​delivery of numbers along with the improvements in the pit area and transition in 2016. In addition, there will be a prize for the fastest in the mini 'chronoescalada' to Sant Salvador del 111. The rate of registrations is higher than in other years, and today 50 participation in the 55.5 has been extended, which had already exhausted the available seats.

One more year, there will be a good group of triathletes who will fight for the victory. The locals stand out Carlos López o Joan Nadal, who do not usually miss the first date of the European triathlon calendar, and who will be face to face with the very powerful Pewag Racing team, with the Belgian Michael Van Cleeven at the helm, winner of the last two editions, and accompanied by Thomas Steger, third in the Ironman Mallorca 70.3 2016 or Stefan Schmid, winner of Ironman Cozumel in 2015 and third in Nice in 2016. Another winner of the 111 in Portocolom, the German Marküs Hörmann, returns with much desire after a long injury last season. In addition, the return of a regular on the podiums is expected, Fabian Rhan, Y de Timothy Van Houtem, second in the hard triathlon of Alpe D'Uez in 2016 and that usually is always in the top-5 in goal in the Club Náutico de Portocolom.

In females, the big favorite is the German Diana Riesler, a lover of Felanitx and the local triathlon scene, with victories of great prestige in his trajectory worldwide (Ironman Malaysia), although he will see the faces with Jenny Schulz, Duathlon European champion in 2015, or Leonor Font, first in the Spanish Long Distance Cup last year and that in the race on foot can give the surprise.

In the 55.5 format  Lucas Mola, brother of the triathlete Mario Mola, defend the title. It will have the competence of Thomas Kaiser, second in 2016 and returning to Portocolom with a spirit of revenge, along with another classic of our asphalt as the Polish  

The two tests on 111 and 55.5 km will take the triathletes the next 9 in April to the same routes as in the past editions. Those registered to the 111 will have to give two laps to the cycling circuit while those of the 55.5 will only give one, climbing only once the 494 meters of Sant Salvador. Swimming will be again in the crystal clear waters of Club Nautic de Portocolom, while the final walking race of 5 or 10 km will have the goal in the urban heart of this Mediterranean town.

In addition to the two tests there will also be a duathlon for minors (TriKids) on Saturday 8 in April.

The International Triathlon of Portocolom 2015 is the economic prize of 4.000 € to be distributed among the top three women's and men's overall rankings, in both the 55.5 and the 111 format (1 swimming kilometer, 100 cycling and 10 race foot).

Further information:  www.triathlonportocolom.net

Photos:© Rafa Babot